Timber Products and Furniture Technologies

Student:……………………………..……………………

Scone High School

TAS Department

Stage 6

Industrial Technology

Timber Products and Furniture Technologies

Preliminary Year

Industry Study

Industry Study (Preliminary)

Students will study an individual business related to the focus area industry.

Students learn about:

/ Students learn to:
Structural factors
· organisation and management
· marketing and sales
· production and efficiency
· technology and restructuring
· quality control
Technical factors
· mechanisation, specialisation
· mass production and automation
· emerging technologies
Environmental and sociological factors
· resources, alternatives, limitations
· recycling
· pollution
· government legislation
· Environmental Impact Studies (EIS)
· sustainable development
Personnel issues
· industrial relations
· entry level training requirements
· retraining and multiskilling
· unions
· roles of industry personnel
· equity/EEO
Occupational health and safety
· government legislation
· industry requirements (standards)
· first aid
· safety training and human factors
· materials handling
· workplace culture
· workplace communication / · investigate the overall organisation and structure of the business
· identify the range of equipment and processes used by the business
· identify how the resources and processes used in the business impact on environmental and sociological factors
· appreciate the impact of government legislation on the decision-making process
· identify the problems of pollution and any recycling of materials associated with the business
· be aware of the concept of EIS and sustainable development to industry decision-making
· describe the various roles and requirements of key personnel within a business
· identify career opportunities and working conditions, including gender issues within the focus area industry
· identify relevant OH&S factors in the workplace that ensure a safe working environment

Case Study: Elite Furniture

Reference: www.industrialtechnology timber.wikispaces.com

Stage 6 Preliminary Course > Industry Study > Case Study: Elite Furniture

Structural Factors

a) Organisation and management

1. What type of business is Elite Furniture

a) Sole Trader b) Partnership

c) Public Company d) Private Company

2. Explain four advantages of forming a company.

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3. The Elite Furniture manufacturing operation involves the labour of some fifty skilled workers, about 30 unskilled workers and15 apprentices all organised by an efficient managerial staff of five people.

Use this information to draw a flow chart showing a possible management structure for Elite Furniture.

b) Marketing and sales

1. Define the term "Market Research"

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2. Discuss how Elite Furniture carries out its market research.

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3. Explain why companies advertise their products.

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c) Production

1. Complete the flow chart below illustrating the production process at Elite Furniture

Raw Materials

d) Quality Control

To maintain high standards in their products Elite furniture practices the total quality control method.

Briefly explain the concept of total quality control.

Quality control is carried out in three stages of production.

Complete the table below stating what is checked at each stage.

Production stage / Checks carried out
Inspection of incoming materials
Inspection during production
Final inspection

Technical Factors

1. Define the following terms:

I. Mechanisation

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II. Mass production

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III. Automation

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2. In most cases the use of the machines at Elite Furniture is to reduce labour. What work are the workers required to do?

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3. For each of the processes carried out at Elite Furniture list the machinery that may be used to carry out the process.

Process / Machinery
Cutting timber to size
Cutting panels to size
Edge banding
Turning timber
Preparing timber to size
Sanding
Mortising
Tenoning
Dowelling
Drilling hinge holes

Electronic panel saw Computer beam saw Edge bander

CNC Wood turning lathe Thicknesser/planer Jointer

4 headed planer/moulder Wide belt sander Copy lathe

Long belt sander Mortising machine Tenoning machine

Multi-head borer Spindle moulder Drop saw

Environmental and sociological factors

a) Resources

List the resources used at Elite Furniture and sate who supplies them

Resource / Supplier

b) Recycling

a) Explain reasons why it became important for Elite Furniture to begin a recycling program.

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b) Describe how Elite Furniture deals with recycling of their waste.

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c) Pollution

Identify the forms of pollution at Elite Furniture and describe how the company controls these.

Form of Pollution / Controls

d) Government Legislation

1. Environmental Impact Studies (EIS)

Explain what an EIS is and state the issues it covers.

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2. Sustainability

a) Define sustainability with regards to the timber industry.

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b) Explain three ways that Elite Furniture support sustainability of the timber industry.

· ......

Sociological Factors

Reference: www.timbertech.wikispaces.com

Stage 6 Preliminary Course > Industry Study > Sociological Factors

a) Issues Relating to a Business

b) Workplace Cultures

1. Define the term workplace safety culture

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2. List the specific actions which can be taken to improve the occupational health and safety in a workplace

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The active involvement of each individual in the workplace is essential for the success of any WHS management program, and helps to develop a ‘safety culture’ in the workplace.

Open communication between management and employees assists in encouraging support for and involvement in WHS activities.

Employees are an important source of WHS information as they are often working with, or in the immediate area of, identified hazards. They can provide valuable advice about risks and possible solutions.

3. List four examples of how employees can assist in providing advice about WHS issues.

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4. List the benefits of having employees being involved in the WHS management program.

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Personnel Issues

a) Industrial Relations

Industrial Award

An industrial award is an agreement between ...... on the rights and obligations for all those involved in a specific type of work.

It is most commonly negotiated by employer representatives and organisations representing the employees (unions). These organisations either apply to the Commission to have an award prepared or develop an award through the resolution of an industrial dispute.

When an industrial award is made it usually deals with conditions of employment such as:

· ......

Enterprise Agreement

Describe what an enterprise agreement is.

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b) Entry Level Training Requirements

1. Describe what a Production Employee, Level 1 is?

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2. The new employee will undertake induction training. List what will be included in the training.

· ......

3. Duties of a production employee level 1 are limited to routine production and/or and labouring to the level of training. List these duties.

· ......

4. What responsibilities does a production employee level 1 have?

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5. Responsibilities: The employee at this level is required to work competently under direct supervision while using minimal discretion in the performance of the allocated tasks.

6. What type of skill training will be provided for the new employee?

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c) Roles of Industry Personnel

Management

Define the role of the management of a business.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......

Identify the position of each of the job descriptions.

Planning

……………………………………… are responsible for planning and development work, estimating quantities and costs, testing new designs and initiating new processes, calculating material strength or suitability, and for originating plans to a preliminary stage.

………………………………………… draw up the projected work to accepted standards, making sub-assembly drawings, compiling material lists and specifying work standards.

Processing

……………………………………… coordinate production with sales, and, with planning staff, aim at maximum efficiency of the workshop labour and equipment.

………………………………………. allocate machine space and labour to ensure continuity of work and supply. They act as liaison between management and the workers.

……………………………………….. carry out detailed work from drawings on machine or handwork, set up machinery for process workers and mark out. They are also used for maintenance.

……………………………………….. assist tradespersons in all branches of their trade, and in so doing learn the skills associated with various aspects of the work.

……………………………………….. carry out many machining operations, repetitive work and assembly line work.

……………………………………….. are responsible for the general cleanliness of the shop, the movement of materials and general operations where no specialist skills are required.

Packing

………………………………………… are responsible for the receipt and dispatch of finished work or incoming components, and their handling and safe storage.

…………………………………………. catalogue materials in and out of the warehouse have a ready knowledge of stock. They also allocate areas within the store for stacking of material.

…………………………………………. crate or pack the work so that it can be stored or transported conveniently and without damage. Many operate forklifts or loading equipment.

Finance

………………………………………… check and verify accountant's statements, and are directly responsible to the management.

………………………………………… are responsible for keeping all books of account, calculating profits, payment of wages, taxation, and calculating costs of work and material from time cards.

…………………………………………. make entries in the books of account to indicate the position of debtors, creditors, etc.

…………………………………………… are responsible for correspondence, mailing statements of account and invoices, issuing receipts.

Sales

…………………………………………… are responsible to management for coordinating sales and demand with production. They make personal representation to distributors or retailers to present new products.

………………………………………….. act as liaison between management and customer. They usually travelling considerably to maintain contact or follow up enquiries or complaints.

………………………………………… are employed by the company for interdepartmental carrying or moving packed goods to retail outlets. Private contractors or government carriers may also be used.

………………………………………… sell the manufactured goods to the public and are usually not connected with the manufacturers except in this way. They try to stimulate sales and demand for the profit made on handling the goods.

………………………………………… put the product before the public through newspapers, television, radio, etc. in the best possible light to stimulate sales.

Market Research

…………………………………………… study market and consumer trends and advise management on production and marketing techniques. They study and report on industry's stability, likely economic changes and consequent effects on the company.

Industrial Research

……………………………………………… are responsible for the technical control of research and development activities within a firm. They should become familiar with, and test, new techniques under the factory's particular conditions. They should follow trade journals, papers and developments to attempt to improve existing products and designs.

Workplace Health and Safety

Reference: www.industrialtechnology timber.wikispaces.com

Stage 6 Preliminary Course > Industry Study > Occupational Health and Safety >

1. WHS Principles and Requirements

The OH&S acts states that employers "must ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of all the employees"

To meet their responsibilities under the OHS act what must Elite Furniture provide?

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The workers at Elite have the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace but what must they do in return?

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Disc

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2. Signage

Signage plays an important role of accident prevention and at Elite Furniture signs are placed strategically around the work place.

Placement of signs

· Signs should be located where they are clearly visible to all concerned so as to attract attention and be read or interpreted easily.

· The height of a sign should be at the normal line of sight for a standing adult.

· Signs should not be placed on movable objects such as a sliding door.

· Regulation and hazard type signs should be positioned in relation to the hazard to allow a person plenty of time to view the sign and take notice of the warning.

Below is a sample of some of the signs on display at Elite Furniture.

For each of the signs below state the meaning of the sign, what category they come under and where they would be positioned.

Reference: www.industrialtechnologytimber.wikispaces.com

Preliminary > Industry Study > Occupational Health and Safety > Signage > Signage.

Sign / Meaning / Category / Position

3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

a) Complete the table below by listing examples of the various types of PPE for each of the categories.

Category / Example
Respiratory protection
Eye protection
Hearing protection
Hand protection
Foot protection

b) The management at Elite Furniture is responsible for the PPE in their factory.

State four issues that the management are responsible for regarding PPE.

i......

ii. ......

iii. ......

iv. ......

c) State three issues that the employees are responsible for regarding PPE.

i. ......

ii. ......

iii. ......

4. Safe Working Practices

a) Briefly explain what a Code of Practice is.

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b) List four Codes of Practices that may be applicable to Elite Furniture

i. ......

ii. ......

iii. ......

iv. ......

c) Safe Operating Procedure

Safe operating procedures are written guidelines for procedures and tasks involving recognised hazards. They provide the tools for teaching how to work consistently with a maximum degree of efficiency and safety.

Why you need a safe operating procedure

Provides checks to see if employees are working safely.

Reminds a plant operator not to take short cuts (that can lead to incidents).

Informs employees that the employer is serious about safety.

Go to: www.timbertech.wikispaces

Workplace Health and Safety (left menu under Home) > Safe Operating Procedures > Disc Sander

I. List the PPE that should be worn when using a disc sander

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II. List the safety hazards or risks involved when using a disc sander

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III. What is the error in this safe operating procedure for the disc sander? (hint point 12)